1916 Map of Lone Tree Valley

About this map

Lone Tree Valley and the surrounding eastern foothills of Contra Costa County appear here in a transition from cattle ranching to early industrialization. Near the northern boundary, the Southern Pacific railroad passes through the small settlement of Newlove, while nearby Oil Tanks clustered at the head of Markley Canyon signal the region's developing energy sector. The topography is dominated by a series of northwest-trending ridges and narrow valleys, including Horse Valley and Deer Valley, where local education centers like the Deer Valley School and Marsh Creek School served the dispersed ranching families. The southern extent of the survey is anchored by the Mt Diablo Base Line, a critical surveying landmark that bisects Briones Valley and follows the course of Marsh Creek as it winds through the hills.